The reason that I read is that they sensed that pure bilateral talks would mean equality in diplomatic terms. The US deals with Japan, China, and South Korea on bilateral and multilateral terms in the normal course of diplomacy.

The US granted one concession- a willingness to talk despite the North's violation of the 1994 agreement. President Bush wisely refused to give them the next concession which would be bilateral talks and thus equality.

North Korea is a dog who's bark is only as loud as China wants it to be. China gains considerable face in the coming two years if it can persuade Kim Jong Il to drop his nuclear program....China can say to the world community "See? What it takes the Americans war to do, we do with words."

The Bushies are only slightly less closer to the Chinese hierarchy than they are to the oil industry, so the tightening of the leash will be considerable . North Korea will serve only as a rhetoric bitch for the Administration to fire up its' hawkish core, teeth dripping with fresh meat and appetites whetted, on. Nothing more.

(Unless President Cheney has worked a deal with Kim to invade the South a month before election day next year. Wouldn't be surprised!)

Perhaps, but don't think that China would not use force on DRPK if they had to and secondly, China will do what it takes to keep the foreign inve$tment$ flowing by showing how diplomatic moderate and "friendly" they are.

"Unless President Cheney has worked a deal with Kim to invade the South a month before election day next year. Wouldn't be surprised!"

Thogh I have major problems with "push, push in the Bush", Clinton was no better by whoreing and the old Europeanesque placation of DPRK with moola and glow in the dark "technology" to keep them quiet

The Clinton Administration was far more beholden to Chinese interests than the Bush Administration. Remember Bernie Schwarz at Loral, Johnny Chung, PLA money going to Democratic coffers? I would say that China had a bit of equity in the Clinton White House.

If anything, that Bush Administration has been downright antagonistic towards China (along with everyone else) and really pissed them off when he promised to defend Taiwan early in his Presidency. His statement was big news in Taipei.

I would be extremely surprised if China can get DPRK to disarm. Although the North needs China, the China also needs the North. The North is their buffer between them and US-influenced, democratic and free South Korea. They have an interest in preserving the North.

King Georgie II, & Clinton, and King Georgie I before him have just been mere peddlers of a three decade old addiction called 'the Chinese consumer'. We've proven a long time ago we'd rather profit off them than free them. Our jag for China goes beyond one man, even a President.

But I will say this; Bush I's reaction to Tianenmen Square was shameful. Those kids paid America one of greatest honors in our history by building their Goddess of Freedom statue in the rough likeness of our Lady Liberty. Chinese tanks squashed it...and them. We should have cut diplomatic relations and yanked every American business venture on the spot, and leaned on the 1st World to sanction China back into the teapot age. Instead they got pithy little 'denounciations' from Washington. .

Although the North needs China, the China also needs the North. The North is their buffer between them and US-influenced, democratic and free South Korea. They have an interest in preserving the North.

You got me with Bernie & Johnny, En...not so much with Taiwan, but this comment makes no sense. China dreams of 10 South Koreas in Asia, and it the bandleader. Robust capitalism is making a helluva lotta good Communists rich in China. North Korea is to the Chinese the equivelent of that annoying Aunt that decorum insists must be invited to the party only because she's family.

Indeed, that's one reason we're at where we're at. I think China is quite seriously fed up with the Mongolian Munchkin. Fed up feeding him, fed up powering him, fed up empowering him. China's ready for the 21st Century, and this chubby turd is the boulder around their regional neck.
He's the ugly chick at the Asian economic party, and China's sick & tired of getting him in .

"But I will say this; Bush I's reaction to Tianenmen Square was shameful. Those kids paid America one of greatest honors in our history by building their Goddess of Freedom statue in the rough likeness of our Lady Liberty. Chinese tanks squashed it...and them. We should have cut diplomatic relations and yanked every American business venture on the spot, and leaned on the 1st World to sanction China back into the teapot age. Instead they got pithy little 'denounciations' from Washington. . "

Do you realize that Tom DeLay could have written this very statement?

I agree with you to an extent. But I think there is method to our madness. If China were ever cut off from US markets, the resulting chaos would result in some kind of conflagaration. It might involve Taiwan or it maybe dometic but in any case it would be a mess. China has to maintain GDP growth of something like 6-10% just to create enough jobs to meet population growth. Money is and was absolutely, positively part of the equation but so is the issue of the stability of China.

"China dreams of 10 South Koreas in Asia, and it the bandleader."

Yeah sure but NIMBY. They don't want anyone of these ten kids on their doorstep. The problem with South Korea for them is the US influence and military presence. If North Korea folded and the South 'wins' so to speak, we would not be leaving right away. That scares China.